Sealed pressure regulator



oct. 19, 1954 A. J. WEATHERHEAD, JR 2,691,988

SEALED PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed June 2l. 1950 44 lll/[ *j 43 Patented Oct. 19, 1954 SEALED PRESSURE REGULATOR Albert J. Weatherhead, Jr., Shaker Heights, Ohio,

assigner to The Weatherhead Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application .lune 21, 1950, Serial No. 169,330

Claims.

in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, such pressure regulators are widely employed to reduce pressures from a high pressure source such as a tank, and many of such regulators are necessarily paritally or completely exposed to the elements.

It is usually desirable to open the exterior of the regulator diaphragm to atmospheric pressure so that the regulator will 4be biased against atmospheric pressure, that is, atmospheric pressure will be the reference pressure. Since the diaphragms are usually quite delicate in order to gain sensitivity, it is desirable that they be protected from mechanical damage. To accomplish the aforesaid objectives, the diaphragm, that is the external surface thereof, is housed by a container or cap which serves to protect the diaphragm from damage, and which, one way or another, contains one or more vent apertures to provide the aforesaid atmospheric referenc pressure on the diaphragm.

The aforesaid construction has presented numerous diiculties. As the diaphragm flexes due to the action of the regulator, air is aspirated into and expelled from the atmospheric chamber thereof, which makes it possible for dirt and moisture to collect in said chamber. Of course, both of these conditions are undesirable, and the presence of moisture presents an additional difficulty in that often due to expansion of the gas in the regulator, the temperature of the latter is depressed so that the moisture within the atmospheric chamber freezes and interferes with the flexibility of the diaphragm. Of course, the same freezing action may be encountered due to a low atmospheric temperature. Difficulty is also encountered with the vents for the atmospheric chamber which may be plugged with dirt or clogged with ice or sleet.

The principal object of the invention resides in sealing the diaphragm, and its protective housing if present, from the intrusion of foreign matter, dirt, moisture, or the like, and at the same time, without interfering with the operation of the regulator diaphragm, and providing a pressure bias for the diaphragm which is equal, or substantially equal, to atmospheric pressure. This is accomplished by enclosing the atmospheric side of the regulator with a normally sealed or air impervious member that encompasses a relatively large volume of air, which member is flexible or otherwise arranged to be self -adjusting as to volume in response to changes in pressure, either internal or external.

In the preferred form of the invention the regu'- lator includes a sealing member in the form of a thin boot of rubber, or rubber-like material, preferably ribbed or corrugated to augment its ilexibility, said boot being retained in sealing engagement with some portion of the regulator body. Such a boot is sensitive to variations of atmospheric pressure so that corresponding variations occur within the boot, and due to its light, flexible construction, the boot can substantially follow fluctuations of the diaphragm of the regulator to maintain a substantially constant volume of enclosed air whereby the reference pressure does not change due to the fluctuations of the regulator diaphragm. In addition, should sleet or ice form on the boot, such sleet or ice Will be cracked or fiaked off by the constant pulsation of the boot as it follows the pulsations of the regulator diaphragm or as it follows changes in atmos pheric pressure.

Many regulators provide pressure release means between the fluid chamber and atmosphere in order to protect the diaphragm from rupture in case excess pressure develops in the uid chamu ber. In a typical construction, the diaphragm operating post incorporates a relief valve spring loaded to pass uid around the post when pres sure reaches a predetermined value within the gas chamber. With this construction it is desirable that the sealing boot be arranged to permit the exhaust of the released fluid. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by slitting the boot at one or more places in the ribs or corrugated portions thereof so that under normal operation the resiliency of the material of the boot closes the slits. I-Iowever, under excess pressure the material of the boot may be stretched to open the slits and relieve such pressure. Alternately, the boot mounting may be so arranged that it will be detached from the regulator body when pressure release occurs, although this construction is not as desirable in that the boot must be replaced when operation of the valve is resumed.

The manner in which the aforesaid objects and advantages may be accomplished will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

l'n the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial section of the modied form;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of a fold in the sea-ling member showing the pressure release slit in its closed position; and,

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the slit in its open position.

Referring to Fig. l, the regulate;` therein illustrated is merely presented as a typical construction of a device embodying applicants invention. The regulator has a body member lil joined to a cap member il, and a flexible diaphragm l2 is clamped between said members. Body member it and diaphragm l2 `form the fluid or regulating chamber of the regulator. A suitable bracket i3 is provided for mounting the regula tor. The regulator has an inlet pipe coupling it formed integrally with a `valve seat il that may be closed by a movable valve member It.

The valve member is actuated by a bell crank it pvoted to the valve member as at 2l and the regulator housing as at 22. The other end 23 of the bell crank is mounted by knife edges Within a post member 2li connected to the diaphragm i2 so that motion of the diaphragm opens and closes the valve that controls admission of uuid to the lower chamber. A suitable outlet fitting or nipple 25 is provided in the lower chamber for connection to the remainder or the system. The valve is urged toward its closed position by an external spring 255 engaging the diaphragm at one end and an adjusting nut 2l at the other. The adjusting nut is threaded into a sleeve 28 fastened to a protective cap l l, which sleeve may be closed by a cap nut 29.

If the regulator embodies a relief valve, it may be in the form of a lbolt 3| connected to post 2d and the latter element will have a valve seat t formed thereon. A spring 33 engages washer 3ft disposed against the diaphragm and a nut on bolt 3l, thereby tending 'to hold valve seat Si! against the diaphragm. Suitable clearance is provided between the bolt 3l and the diaphragm, either by an enlarged hole in the diaphragm that receives the bolt or by providing flats on the bolt or both. If pressure beneath the diaphragm i2 exceeds a certain predetermined value the action on the diaphragm may lift the diaphragm relative to the valve seat t2 compressing springs 26 and 33 and relieving such excess pressure.

In order to provide atmospheric pressure on the upper or outside of the diaphragm i2, the cap il, which serves as mechanical protection for the diaphragm, is provided with a vent member Se which includes a vent port 3l .so that the pre.,- sure within the cap l i will substantially be equal to atmospheric pressure at all times.

Applicants sealing member, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a boot @il formed of natun ral or synthetic rubber or cf other plastic or rubber-like material which is mounted on the assemblage of flanges di extending from the b'cdy and cap members le and i i. The edge of boot Ail may include a grooved rib portion as at l2 for reslliently gripping the fla-nge assembly fil. 'in order that the sealing member may be quite flexible and responsive to changes in atmospheric pressure as well as to fluctuations oi the diaphragm I2, member t@ is ribbed as at i3 through out its axial length so that it presents a flexible,

corrugated wall to the action of pressure differentials between the inside and outside of the member 5%. With this construction of the sealing member lill, it may respond to variations in atmospheric pressure as well as respond to fluctuations of the diaphragm I2, and due to the corrugaticns d3, it takes very little energy to cause such response.

If the regulator incorporates a relief valve structure, a suitable number of slits 44 may be formed in the folds of the ribs 43 and such slits will be maintained closed by the resilient action of the boot material at the substantially atmospheric pressures normally present Within the boot. However, if excess pressure develops within the boot, as would occur if the relief valve were open, such pressure will be suicient to open the slits somewhat, as indicated in Fig. 4, whereupon the excess pressure will escape through the slits Without blowing oit or tearing the boot. As soon as the pressure is relieved, the slits will again close automatically and the regulator will again be sealed. The action of the sealing boot dt, namely its response to fluctuations of the diaphragm i2 will not be materially altered, even if the device is exposed to the elements under sleet or icy conditions, because the constant fluctuations of the material of member di) in response to the fluctuations of the diaphragm and changes in atmospheric pressure tend to break or flake sleet and ice that may form on the member All. In the preferred form it can be seen that the volume of air enclosed by member 4D is relatively large so that even if the member does not exactly follow iluctuations ci the diaphragm, any change in pressure within member it due to such iiuctuations will. be negligible.

The form shown in Fig. 2 has the same mode ci operation as that shown in Fig. l, except that the sealing member @da is made smaller, andv instead of being mounted on the flange assembly il sealing member Cita is frictionally mounted. rIhe boot fiile has an annular collar or rib Mi that is normally smaller in diameter than spring housing 23 so that the collar can be stretched and slipped over the housing. In this construction, the upper cap i la will not be vented, rather he cap nut 29a (or possibly sleeve 28) will be ported, which port may be closed by a protective screen 36a. In order to augment the ilexibility of the sealing member [ma it is corrugated as at Ma, as in the preferred construction. If a relief valve is built into the regulator and is opened by pressure in the lower chamber, the boot :lila will merely be blown clear of the .regulator and may be salvaged. I-f a relief valve is incorporated in the regulator and it is not desired to have the bo-ot Illia be blown from the regulator or unduly stretched, pressure relief slits Ma may be formed in the folds of the corrugtions riga to act as explain-ed in the description of Figs. l, 3, and 4. l

Having completed a detailed description of my invention it will be apparent that I have economically produced a sealed regulator having all the advantages of a vented regulator biased against atmospheric pressure with none of the disadvantages formerly attendant with such constructions in the form ofradmission of moisture, dirt, and o-ther foreign matter, and interferencey with the regulator action due to freezing, sleet, ice, and the like.

Having completed a detailed description of the present invention so that others :skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A sealed pressure regulator comprising a body including a casing having an opening, inlet and outlet ports in said casing, a valve for said inlet port, mechanism for opening and closing said valve, said mechanism comprising a diaphragm extending across said opening and forming with said casing a regulating chamber, valve operating means connected to said valve and to said diaphragm, and a spring engaging said mechanism and said body; a port in said diaphragm, a spring-biased relief valve closing said port, and a closure making sealed engagement with said body and disposed to form with said body and diaphragm a normally sealed chamber, said closure including a thin-Walled circumferentially corrugated member of rubber-like material movable in response to pressure changes within said sealed chamber caused by iluctuation of said diaphragm whereby the volume of the chamber dened by said diaphragm, regulator body, and ilexible closure remains substantially constant as said diaphragm flexes within said body, said closure being arranged to open said sealed chamber to atmosphere when pressure in said chamber increases by a predetermined amount above atmospheric pressure.

2. A sealed pressure regulator comprising a body including a casing having an opening, inlet and outlet ports in said casing, a valve for said inlet port, mechanism for opening and closing said valve, said mechanism comprising a diaphragm extending across said opening and forming with said casing a regulating chamber, valve operating means connected to said valve and to said diaphragm, a spring engaging said mechanism and said body, a port in said diaphragm, a spring-biased relief valve closing said port, and a closure making sealed engagement with said body and disposed to form with said body and diaphragm a normally-sealed chamber, said closure including a thin-walled circumferentially corrugated member of rubber-like material movable in response to pressure changes Within said normally sealed chamber caused by fluctuation of said diaphragm whereby the volume of the chamber dened by said diaphragm, regulator body, and flexible closure remains substantially constant as said diaphragm fleXes within said body, there being slits in the Wall of said member held closed by the resiliency of the member when atmospheric pressure exists in said chamber, said member stretching to open said slits when pressure in said normally sealed chamber increases by a predetermined amount above atmospheric pressure.

3. A sealed pressure regulator comprising a body including a casing having an opening, inlet and outlet ports in said casing, a valve for said inlet port, mechanism for opening and closing said valve, said mechanism comprising a diaphragm extending over said opening forming with said casing a regulating chamber, Valve operating means connecting said valve to said diaphragm, a port in said diaphragm, normally closed relief valve means closing said port adapted to open at a predetermined pressure, and a closure member making sealing engagement with said body and disposed to form with said body and diaphragm a normally sealed chamber, said closure member including a ilexible member of rubber-like material movable in response to pressure changes within said sealed chamber caused by fluctuations of said dia-- phragm whereby the volume of the chamber dened by said diaphragm, regulator body and flexible closure remain substantially constant as said diaphragm flexes within said body, said body including a cover member between said diaphragm and said closure member, said cover member being provided with vent means opening into said closure member, said closure member being arranged to open said sealed 'chamber to atmosphere when the pressure in said sealed chamber increases by a predetermined amount above atmospheric pressure.

4. A sealed pressure regulator as dened in claim 3 wherein said cover member includes a sleeve and said closure member resiliently engages said sleeve forming a frictional seal therebetween.

5. A sealed pressure regulator as defined in claim 3 wherein said closure member is formed with resiliently closed valve means arranged to open when the pressure in said sealed chamber increases to said predetermined amount above atmospheric pressure.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 5,431 Field June 3, 1873 1,359,631 Teed Nov. 23, 1920 1,837,970 Jones Dec. 22, 1931 2,147,850 MacLean Feb. 2l, 1939 2,208,261 Jackson July 16, 1940 2,295,767 Wiggins Sept. 15, 1942 2,306,746 Niesemann Dec. 29, 1942 2,312,679 Speth Mar. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 694,809 France Sept. 22, 1930 

